I went out to turn on my Snapper 8 hp/26 snowblower and it sounded like it wanted to start but, would not. I have had it for 3 years and no problems? I went to get a new spark plug and it still tried to start with a few good pulls. But, will NOT. I checked the gas line to see if it froze up and no its got no ice in it. I have a full tank of gas as well. Can you help me to think what to do next as the snow is getting high and I need my blower here in South LakeTahoe.
Thank You

Coral D, January 2008

It sounds like you tried all the basics. Now what you don't want to hear is that it may be a carborator problem or a filter problem. If your handy your manual will tell you how to check the filter. But the carb. is a different animal. Leave that to the pros. also you may not have stored it correctly and have some bad gas in the line. Did you drain it and use fresh gas this year? I do not drain the tank anymore on my equipment because I found out that many mfgs. are using aluminum fuel bowls which when dry develop aluminium oxide dust which releases from the bowl when new gas is intriduced into the fuel bowl. thus clogging the carb jet and forcing the need for a carb rebuild. I use a high quality gas stablizer before storing which prevents air from entering the fuel via an enzyne over the surface of the fuel. I use a product that is blue in color (don't want to say its' name) but it claims it keeps gas fresh for 2 years.

M Assenza from NJ, April 2013

check for spark at plug.if ok try sraying either into carb air intake, iff it starts fuel problem try tapping on carb posibly stuck needle valve ,water in gas etc, may need too take apart

robert, February 2008